Matara Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa

The Matara Magistrate’s Court has issued an arrest warrant for former Minister Basil Rajapaksa after he failed to appear in court today. The warrant was issued by Matara Magistrate Chathura Dissanayake, who rejected submissions from Rajapaksa's lawyers citing his ill health and current medical treatment abroad. The case, filed by the Police Financial Crimes Division, concerns allegations that Rajapaksa used illegally obtained funds to purchase a 1.5-acre land in the Brown's Hill area of Matara. Reports indicate that Mr. Rajapaksa has been residing in the United States for over a year. The court has instructed the police to take necessary action to arrest him and present him at the next hearing.